2024 WYO Film Fest

A Buffalo Story tells of the return of bison to the North American landscapes they once defined and outlines some of the important ecological and cultural impacts of that restoration. The primary story arc follows the efforts of Tribal Buffalo Manager, Jason Baldes to restore bison to the Wind River Reservation. His efforts to help people believe in buffalo again require him to confront his own trauma. His personal growth and healing throughout the process are the lens through which we examine the challenges facing the restoration of bison as a wild animal as well as the potential for healing that reconnection with buffalo and culture can provide. In so doing, the film examines the forces and mindsets that undermined that ancient relationship in the first place as well as some ways that the benefits of that relationship can be reimagined in a modern context. Jason’s personal story raises a lot of questions about the value of culture and tradition and how to move forward in positive change. His work and story also provide valuable insights for all Americans to think about the future they want and the ways in which Indigenous values and wisdom might contain important lessons for everyone and provide blueprints for healthier and more sustainable lifestyles for human beings.

2024 / United States / 120 Minutes

DIRECTOR: Colin Ruggiero
WRITER: Colin Ruggiero
PRODUCER: Colin Ruggiero
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: The National Wildlife Federation, Colin Ruggiero

Two personal journeys intersect when a struggling young photographer is hired for a cheap last minute portrait gig. The unfolding photo session, while transient, leaves an indelible mark on both women.

2023 / United States / 15 Minutes, 51 Seconds

DIRECTOR: J.D Shields
WRITER: J.D Shields
PRODUCERS: Diana Ward, Maya Korn, Lauren Avinoam

The end of the world is not what Polly expected. In fact, she’s not even totally sure this is the end of the world so she’s biding her time. Living in the trailer in the backyard of her roomates’ house, listening to ska records as she relentlessly refreshes her Facebook feed just in case and reads self-help books. She hasn’t seen another human in a week but she’s trying not to get overly stressed about it. That’s when Thea shows up carrying a semiautomatic rifle and making fun of Polly’s music. Together, these two misfits come up with a plan: train Polly to survive the apocalypse, steal her roommate’s car and avoid all the freaky coyotes and the cannibals from Orange County.

2023 / United States / 15 Minutes, 27 Seconds

DIRECTORS: Callie Bloem, Christopher J. Ewing
WRITERS: Callie Bloem, Christopher J. Ewing
PRODUCERS: Callie Bloem, Christopher J. Ewing, Sherise Dorf, Naveen Singh, Sean Patrick Kelly

After the death of a friend, two nuns in their golden years contemplate what their future holds. One confession leads to another and before they know it, they’re embarking on an adventure.

2023 / United States / 11 Minutes, 7 Seconds

DIRECTOR: Stephanie Kaznocha
WRITER: Stephanie Kaznocha
PRODUCERS: Chase Horton, Caroline Huber, Stephanie Kaznocha

Richard Fierro, the Army veteran credited with stopping the Club Q mass shooter, recounts the life experiences that led up to his heroic actions. Fierro’s bold insights on diversity, courage, and unity remind us what it takes to make America a beacon of hope for all.

2024 / United States / 28 Minutes, 58 Seconds

DIRECTOR: Edward Tyndall
PRODUCER: Tyler Brodie

A short-form, episodic, docuseries following Bria Hammock’s Wyoming State Parks artist-in-residency road trip and exploring behind-the-scenes what it really means to be in residence in nature, as an artist and as a human.

2023 / United States / 15 Minutes, 31 Seconds

DIRECTOR: Bria Hammock
WRITER: Bria Hammock
PRODUCERS: Bria Hammock, Beth Gundthardt

After a night of debauchery, two roommates wake up to discover a mysterious, magical object has been left behind, and it is tied to their fates.

2024 / USA / 6:30 Minutes

DIRECTED BY: Jon Henry Justice, Matt Cummins
WRITTEN BY: Jon Henry Justice
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Salvatore Brown
FIRST AC: Anastacia Graves
SOUND BY: Kerek Ford, Ted Keegan
LIGHTING & GAFFING BY: Lance Roth
EDITORS: Stephen Tucker, Dana Wyatt, Josh Lobo, Rowan Russell, Madison Lloyd
CAST: Michael-Thane ORchard, Daniel-Ian Gale
PRODUCTION MENTORS: Josh Lobo, Rowan Russell, Dana Wyatt, Stephen Tucker
WYO PLAY DIRECTOR: Grace Cannon-Wallace
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WYO THEATER: Erin Butler

No two nights are ever the same. When solar activity is high, the aurora borealis fills the sky with a rainbow of colors. Glimmering, flickering, pulses of light dance between meteors and satellites among a backdrop of thousands of stars. Over prairies and oceans, lakes and mountains, the night sky comes alive. This time lapse film is a 3-year effort to capture the northern lights over Wyoming, Montana, Greenland, and beyond.

2024 / United States / 14 Minutes

DIRECTOR: Kevin Palmer

Strong Grandma follows Catherine, a 95-year old competitive deadlifter into what she believes will be her final weightlifting competition. Kuehn got into weightlifting when she was 80 years old because she had osteopenia, and was surprised to find she had a knack for it. She began competing at 85 and has won every event she has entered, simply because there’s no one else in her age to compete against. Despite being a world champion deadlifter, Catherine spends her days as any grandmother would. She eats Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup for lunch on training days and one of her great joys is watching birds flock to her bird feeder. But she is lonely. Her husband Dick, of 61 years, and her biggest powerlifting cheerleader, died a couple years ago. He was her soulmate, and mustering up the courage to start competing again without him has been tough. The film follows Catherine into one of her first competitions back since his death.

2023 / United States / 14 Minutes, 54 Seconds

DIRECTORS: Cecilia Brown, Winslow Crane-Murdoch

Unleash the spirit of adventure with “The Call of the Road,” an Only Co. Original Docuseries that dives into the world of Ryan Bros. Trucking based in Thermopolis, WY. Witness the grit, determination, and family attitude that drives across the American West. Experience a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to maintain and grow a 3rd generation family business, balancing the need to keep the legacy vision alive while adapting to today’s new opportunities and challenges. Understand what it means to “ride for the brand,” and how traditional family values impact decision making, employee retention, recruitment, and customer and contractor relationships. Learn why if you work for or do business with Ryan Bros.Trucking, you’re part of the family. Buckle up, put it in gear, and enjoy the journey!

2024 / United States

FILM BY: Josh Law, Jeremiah Karr, Adam Benson, Emily Hawkins, Dianne Michalek, Makayla Godwin, Latrisha Eilers, Sam Vogel

Impassioned surfer Taylor Lane creates a functional surfboard with 10,000 littered cigarette butts collected from California beaches. The Cigarette Surfboard takes Taylor around the world to learn about what ocean activists and professional surfers are doing to protect and restore the health of the ocean. Surfing is the medium, but the message is universal.

2024 / United States / 1 Hour, 33 Minutes

DIRECTORS: Ben Judkins
WRITERS:Wyoming Singer-Songwriters
PRODUCERS: Taylor Lane, Ben Judkins
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Marisla Foundation, Plastic Pollution Coalition, Suszi Sutherland
CONTRIBUTING PRODUCERS: Friends Foundation International, Heffernan Foundation, Karen & Steve Skurnac
POST PRODUCTION SOUND: IMRSV Sound
FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROVIDED BY: The International Documentary Association

In the heart of America’s rugged landscape, “The Great Wyoming Singer-Songwriter Competition” reveals the story behind a beloved musical event that has become a cultural cornerstone.

The film traces the competition’s origins, born from the vision of passionate musicians in Laramie and community leaders aiming to celebrate local talent and foster unity through music. Through interviews, new footage, and captivating performances, we explore the journeys of diverse participants, from ranchers to university students, each sharing their unique stories and songs.

Central to the documentary is the annual competition, a vibrant celebration where camaraderie and mentorship thrive. More than just a contest, it is a family that supports and inspires one another.

“The Great Wyoming Singer-Songwriter Competition” captures the essence of this extraordinary event and the remarkable people behind it, showcasing the unifying power of music and the shared journey that defines this heartfelt community.

2024 / United States / 31 Minutes

DIRECTORS: Emmet Casey
WRITERS: Wyoming Singer-Songwriters
PRODUCER: Jon Gardzelewski

A mock true-crime episode covers the 1988 disappearance of a fictional teenager named Jennifer Meyers, but the reenactments are acted out with crudely-made mini models. As the episode progresses, we learn more about the woman constructing and operating the reenactment mini models and the danger lurking in her one bedroom apartment.

2022 / United States / 12 Minutes, 21 Seconds

DIRECTOR: Caroline Symons
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Fletcher Wolfe

Set against the majestic landscapes of Montana and Wyoming, “Voices Of The West” celebrates the contributions of Native Americans to the origins of American cowboy culture. Long viewed as the domain of white men and women of European descent, this documentary follows the lives of modern Native Americans as they work their land and livestock, participate in regional rodeo events, and reflect on the rich history of the “Indian Cowboy.” On the wings of a powerful and sometimes haunting musical soundtrack from country music star Ian Munsick, “Voices of the West” challenges our perception of the American cowboy and acknowledges the rich heritage of Native Americans in the formation of the modern West.

2024 / United States / 48 Minutes

DIRECTOR: Cameron Mackey
PRODUCER: Caroline Munsick
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Cameron Mackey
EDITOR: Nick Rubino
MUSIC BY: Ian Munsick
LICENSING COORDINATOR: Maryam Battaglia
ARTIST MANAGEMENT: Caroline Munsick
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Mike Dupree, Ian Munsick, Caroline Munsick

WHY DINOSAURS follows a young dinosaur enthusiast from amateur fossil collector to museum volunteer to discovering his love of paleontology could mean a career in science.

In the film, dino-obsessed James and his filmmaker father embark on a global adventure interviewing world-renowned paleontologists about the latest dinosaur research, unearthing 150-million year old bones, and meeting dino-fanatics from all walks of life.

Their journey also takes them behind the scenes of the iconic “Jurassic Park” movie franchise, where they gain exclusive insights from the Hollywood filmmakers who brought these prehistoric giants to life on the big screen.

As WHY DINOSAURS delves deep into the many reasons behind our timeless fascination with these ancient creatures, viewers watch young James deepen his passion for the science behind dinosaurs and begin his journey to become a professional paleontologist.

2024 / United States / 1 Hour, 34 Minutes

DIRECTORS: Tony Pinto, James Pinto
WRITERS: Tony Pinto, James Pinto
EDITORS: Tony Pinto, James Pinto
PRODUCERS: James L Pinto, Tara Pinto, Tony Pinto, Kallie Moore, Dr. Dean Lomax, Dr. Nizar Ibrahim
MUSIC: Raphaël Dargent
COLORIST: Tashi Trieu
SOUND DESIGN: Anna Cassady

A simple catch up over coffee at their favorite café turns into a fight for two friends about what is enough—and what is real.

2024 / USA / 6 Minutes

DIRECTED BY: Madison Lloyd
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Ted Keegan
WRITTEN BY: Ted Keegan, Madison Lloyd
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Salvatore Brown
LEAD EDITOR: Madison Lloyd
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Anastacia Graves
EDITOR MENTOR: Stephen Tucker
CAST: Alexandra Brace, Anastacia Graves, Sydney Knapp
PRODUCTION MENTORS: Josh Lobo, Rowan Russell, Dana Wyatt
WYO PLAY DIRECTOR: Grace Cannon-Wallace
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WYO THEATER: Erin Butler